November 18, 1875. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTIGULTUBR AND COTTAGE QABDENER. 



437 



WEEKLY CALENDAR. 



STRAWBERRY CULTURE— DUG DE MALAKOFF 

 STRAWBERRY. 



3^^^^ ELDOM ("and rarely honourably) mentioneil 

 by our distinguished fragarians is Due do 

 Malakoff Strawberry. Gratifyinc; indeed it 

 is to find the author of the " Frnit Manual" 

 pronouncing it to be " a very excellent Straw- 

 berry," exactly what I have found it in a 

 light shallow soil, which can only bo made 

 to grow Strawben-ies by heavy manuring, 

 in the soil and on the surface. " C. P. P.," 

 Dr. Roden, and others may raise a cry when 

 a departure is made from the system they consider ortho- 

 dox. Their soil suits the Strawberry so well as to render 

 frequent renewal unnecessary. In fact, I knew a gardener 

 that had Strawben-ies on the same ground without re- 

 newal of plants for over twenty years, and relied upon 

 them (Roseberry) for the supply of preserving fruit. True 

 to his faith (and it were that of a veteran, he having had 

 over fifty years' experience of Strawberries in that soil 

 and place), a futile attempt was made to grow British 

 Queen upon the same system. What, however, with 

 Hantboia run wild, Keens' Seedling, Myatt's Seedling 

 (Filbert Pine), and Elton, really passable fruits were had 

 for dessert and " loads " for preserving. ' ■ 



Different indeed is my practice and soil. His was a 

 strong unctuous loam ; mine is a light shallow one, which 

 may not be stirred deeper than a foot or 15 inches. With 

 this latter kind of soil I have at present to do, and, as 

 there is miich of a similar kind, a short account of my 

 experience and practice may not be uninteresting. The 

 plants bear the finest fruit the first year, more of it and 

 smaller the second, and in the third season a very mode- 

 rate crop of inferior fruit, amounting to a waste of land, 

 material, and labour. After the second year the plants 

 either go off — plants here and there — leaving ugly gaps, 

 or become superabundant only of foliage — sterile so far as 

 fruit is concerned. Placing between every alternate row 

 of plants a|year old, and fruiting for the first time, a row 

 of 3-inch pots filled rather firmly with good loamy soil, 

 as closely together as they will stand and level, the first 

 runners are laid upon the pots, one in the centre of each, 

 and secured with a wire pin, like a liair pin, cutting off 

 the bine beyond the first runner — the only one layered. 

 Early in July there will be sufficient runners to fill the 

 pots, as we have the choice from the runners of two rows 

 of plant?, the pots being placed in alternate rows, and 

 a row is left clear for facility of gathering the fruit with- 

 out danger of injuring the layered runner-bines. If dry 

 weather ensue water every other day, whilst, if moist 

 weather, watering will not be necessary. In a fortnight 

 the runners will be well rooted, and within that and three 

 weeks they should be detached from the parent, for if 

 left longer the roots become matted in the pots, and 

 before that takes place they should be planted out. Early 

 Potato-ground will be clear or other crops off, as Peas or 

 Cabbage, and all tlie preparation given is to manure well 

 and dig in deeply; or if the ground be in good heart 

 No. 764.— Vol. XXIX., New Seeies. 



the manure is not always given, but merely dug. The 

 plants are put out in rows 2 feet asunder for the compact 

 growers, as Keens' Seedling, with the plants 1 foot apart; 

 the stronger kinds, as President, require the rows 2 feet 

 6 inches apart, and the plants l.'J inches apart, watering 

 in dry weather until established, and keeping clear of 

 weeds and runners as they appear. In October or early 

 November a mulching is given at least 2 inches thick of 

 short but very rotten manure between the rows and 

 plants, placing near the crowns, but not upon but beneath 

 the leaves. No implement of any kind to be used in the 

 spring and early summer after planting for loosening the 

 soil or removing weeds, for it wants solidification, and 

 this the feet will do in removing weeds ; and in a firm 

 soil the Strawberry and everything else is much more 

 fibrous-rooted than in a loose and open soil. Water as 

 much as you like between the rows after the fruit is set 

 and swelling freely, remembering that a good soaking 

 once a-week is worth a surface-wetting every day ; but I 

 do not water, and the fruit is always large enough, and it 

 is " big 'uns " we want and have. 



Well, we have a heavy crop of course, and have secured 

 what runners are required for planting and forcing, and 

 we cut up every other plant in the rows and clear the 

 other of runners, making all neat and trim. Weeds and 

 runners only trouble us further untU autumn, and then 

 in October or November comes the top-dressing as a year 

 previously with short about half-decayed manure, and 

 the following season we have a hea^^y crop, and clear 

 them off the ground after fruiting, and crop with any 

 winter greens we want. We plant about half the ground 

 under Strawberries every year, and have in return plants 

 a year and two years old, longer than which it is not 

 profitable to continue them. The one-year-old plants 

 will be the staple for dessert, whilst the two-year-old will 

 give some for that purpose and later, and an immensity 

 for the still-room or preserving. 



The laying in pots may be considered a trouble, but 

 it is not too great for plants intended to perfect then- 

 fruit in pots, and why should a httle extra trouble be 

 grudged over those intended to be fruited in the open 

 air ? or is not a crop of fruit the first year equal to what 

 is gained from plants left to root as they may, planted 

 some time in summer or autumn, will give the second 

 year, worth striving for ? Late planting of self-rooted 

 runners in any soil means loss of a year's crop ; for in a 

 strong soil, as in a light, early-planted early-rooted run- 

 ners will give their finest fruit the first year. Another 

 plan which answers well with me is to plant out the 

 plants which have been forced in rows 2 feet apart and 

 18 inches asunder in the rows. They never fail to fruit 

 heavily the following season, after which they should be 

 cleared off. I have, however, kept them a second season 

 with satisfactory results. 



Runners are never taken of plants other than thoso 

 fruiting, thereby securing fruitful plants. Any not show- 

 ing fruit should be rooted out and replaced by fruitful 

 plants from pots, which is easily done when plants 

 are forced. If laying in pots be an objection strips of 



No. niC— Vol. LIV., Old .Seeies. 



